Supports for chemical vapor deposition coating applications

Abstract

In one aspect, carrier bodies and associated apparatus are described herein for supporting cutting tools during a CVD process. Carrier bodies and associated apparatus, in some embodiments, can facilitate proper placement and orientation of cutting tools on reactor trays while minimizing contact marks. Briefly, a carrier body comprises a base, a guide element opposite the base, and convex ridges for supporting one or more cutting tools during a chemical vapor deposition coating process.

1 . A carrier body comprising a base, a guide element opposite the base, and convex ridges for supporting one or more cutting tools during a coating process. 
     
     
         2 . The carrier body of  claim 1 , wherein the convex ridges are positioned between the base and guide element and extend radially outward from a central longitudinal axis of the carrier body. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier body of  claim 1 , wherein the convex ridges define shoulders of the carrier body. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier body of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a polygonal cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier body of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a protrusion for engaging an aperture in a tray of a chemical vapor deposition apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier body of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a recess for engaging a protrusion of a tray of a chemical vapor deposition apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier body of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the ridges form an angle with the longitudinal axis of 20 degrees to 80 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier body of  claim 3 , wherein the ridges define one or more faces of the carrier body. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier body of  claim 8 , wherein faces are polygonal. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier body of  claim 8 , wherein two or more of the faces are parallel with one another. 
     
     
         11 . The carrier body of  claim 8 , wherein carrier body comprises a front face parallel to a back face. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier body of  claim 1 , wherein the guide element is configured with fit within an aperture of a cutting tool. 
     
     
         13 . The carrier body of  claim 1  formed of a composition comprising alumina, carbon fiber composite, or a carbide, nitride, carbonitride, oxide or oxynitride of one or more metals selected from aluminum, silicon and Groups IVB-VIB of the Periodic Table. 
     
     
         14 . A tray of a chemical vapor deposition apparatus comprising:
 carrier bodies for supporting cutting tools during a coating process, the carrier bodies arranged in clusters on a face of the tray.   
     
     
         15 . The tray of  claim 14 , wherein the carrier bodies comprise a pyramidal base. 
     
     
         16 . The tray of  claim 14 , wherein the clusters have a periodic arrangement on the tray face. 
     
     
         17 . The tray of  claim 14 , wherein the clusters have an aperiodic arrangement on the tray face. 
     
     
         18 . The tray of  claim 14 , wherein the carrier bodies are machined into the face of the tray. 
     
     
         19 . The tray of  claim 14 , wherein the carrier bodies are bonded to the face of the tray. 
     
     
         20 . The tray of  claim 14 , wherein the carrier bodies of a cluster are arranged on a platform, the platform coupled with the face of the tray. 
     
     
         21 . The tray of  claim 20 , wherein the platform comprises one or more protrusions for coupling with a recess or hole in the tray. 
     
     
         22 . The tray of  claim 14 , wherein the carrier bodies are formed of a composition comprising alumina, or a carbide, nitride, carbonitride, oxide or oxynitride of one or more metals selected from aluminum, silicon and Groups IVB-VIB of the Periodic Table, and the tray is formed of a composition comprising graphite and/or carbon fiber composite material. 
     
     
         23 . A carrier assembly for cutting tool coating processes comprising:
 a platform for engaging a tray of a chemical vapor deposition apparatus; and   carrier bodies arranged on a surface of the platform, the carrier bodies having geometry for supporting cutting tools during coating application.   
     
     
         24 . The carrier assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the carrier bodies comprises a polygonal base. 
     
     
         25 . The carrier assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the carrier bodies are pyramidal. 
     
     
         26 . The carrier assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the carrier bodies are uniformly spaced on the platform. 
     
     
         27 . The carrier assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the platform comprises one or more protrusions for engaging a recess or hole in the tray. 
     
     
         28 . The carrier assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the carrier bodies are machined into the surface of the platform. 
     
     
         29 . The carrier assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the carrier bodies and platform are each formed of a composition independently selected from the group consisting of alumina, carbon fiber composite, or a carbide, nitride, carbonitride, oxide or oxynitride of one or more metals selected from aluminum, silicon and Groups IVB-VIB of the Periodic Table.